The History Man
Active member
I keep getting asked about records and potential records being set this season. I don't like to tempt fate at all, but to satisfy those interested these are the records I have come up with.
These records discount seasons 1901/02 and 1902/03 in the Southern League Division Two in which just 16 and 10 games were played respectively, and wartime leagues 1939-46. Albion played in the Southern League until 1920, the Football League thereafter.
Statistics are at 30th March 2011.
Table-based records
Fewest league goals conceded
Club record in Football League is 34 (1922/23, 1984/85), both seasons over 42 games. Albion currently on 27 this season. In 1909/10 they conceded 28 goals in 42 Southern League games. In terms of goals conceded per game, to better 1909/10 would mean conceding 30 or fewer; to better 1922/23 and 1984/85 would mean 37 or fewer. In 2000/01 they conceded 35 in 46 games.
Fewest league defeats
Club record is 6 (1909/10, 2001/02). Albion currently on 5.
Most league wins
Club record is 29 (1955/56). Albion currently on 25.
Fewest home league defeats
Club record is 0 (1964/65). Will be equalled if Albion remain undefeated at home.
Most away league wins
Club record is 12 (1971/72). Albion currently on 10.
Fewest away league goals conceded
Club record is 17 (1909/10, 1977/78, both 42 games – equivalent to 18.6 over 46 games). Albion currently on 13 goals.
Most league points (under three points/win)
Most is 92 (2000/01). This would have been exceeded in 1955/56 at 94 if three points/win had operated. Albion currently on 83.
Most home league points (under three points/win)
Most is 59 (2001/02). If three points/win had operated, this would have been exceeded by 1955/56 (62), 1976/77 (60) and equalled by 1964/65. Albion currently on 49.
Most away league points (under three points/win)
Most is 34 (2001/02, now equalled this season). If three points/win had operated, this would have been exceeded by 1971/72 (42) and 1957/58 (39).
Best away goal difference
Club record is 14 (1971/72). Albion currently on 11.
Sequence-based records (within one season)
Consecutive wins home and away
Currently on eight wins. If Albion win at Rochdale they will equal the record of season 1926/27 of nine consecutive league wins home and away. The league-and-cup record is ten from 1926/27, followed by nine in 1909/10. The current performance is a post-war record.
Consecutive home wins (league and cup)
Albion are currently on 10. The record is 14 in 1975/76.
Consecutive home games without losing
If Albion remain undefeated in the league at home, they will equal the undefeated league record of 1964/65. They would also equal the league-and-cup sequence record of 24 games set in 1964/65 (but would not be undefeated having lost to Leyton Orient in the JPT).
Consecutive home league games scoring
If Albion score at least one goal in each of their remaining home games, they will equal the record 23 of 1955/56 by scoring in every home league game.
Consecutive away wins
If Albion win at Rochdale they will equal the record of season 1998/99 of five consecutive away league wins, and the record of 1926/27 of five consecutive league and cup wins.
Consecutive away games without conceding a goal
Albion are currently on four. The record is six league games from 1948/49, or five league-and-cup games from 1948/49.
Calendar months
Albion’s eight wins out of eight in March sets a new record for the number of wins in one calendar month, beating the seven (out of seven) in October 1926.
Results-based records
Most home and away league “doubles” for
Club record is 8 (1936/37, 1955/56, 1964/65). Albion currently on 7 for this season with further opportunities against Dagenham & Redbridge, Walsall, Colchester United and Notts County.
Fewest home and away league “doubles” against
Club record is 0 (1909/10, 1911/12, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1930/31, 1955/56, 1957/58, 1964/65, 1971/72, 1976/77, 1977/78, 1978/79, 1987/88, 2003/04). Albion currently on 0, but must not lose to Huddersfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday or Southampton.
Most clean sheets in league
Club record is 24 (2000/01). Albion currently on 19.
Attendance records
Best home league average attendance at Withdean
Club record is 6,802 (2005/06). Currently 7,199 (which is the best home average since 1994/95 – 7,562, ie including last two seasons at the Goldstone).
Biggest gate at Withdean
For the record, the biggest league gate at Withdean is 8.691 v Leeds United (20/10/2007). The biggest of all is 8,729 v Manchester City (24/09/2008, Carling Cup).
Personnel records (and notable facts)
Most players born outside British Isles
Six “foreign-born” players were on the pitch at the same time for the last five minutes against Exeter City on 02/11/2010, thereby outnumbering the “home” players for the only time in history. They were: Ankergren, Calderon, Kishishev, LuaLua, Baz and Battipiedi.
Penalties
I don’t know for certain without laborious checking, but I assume this is the worst season for penalty misses! It is probably also up there among the seasons with most penalties awarded. There are records available for the past 15 season which show this is the worst season of those 15 in terms of success rate (46% - six scored from 13 awarded) apart from 2004/05 when we scored just one of three penalties awarded. It is also two ahead of 2003/04 with the most penalties awarded, currently 13.
Casper Ankergren
Casper has conceded 29 goals in 39 league and cup games, an average of 0.74 per game. This is the best average of any goalkeeper with more than 3 appearances. The next best is Ben Roberts (35 goals in 41 matches, average 0.85).
Glenn Murray
Glenn is currently 20th in the list of Albion league goalscorers with 52 goals, or ninth post-war. He is unlikely to catch Peter Harburn or Sam Jennings on 61 this season, but may overtake Jack Doran (54) and Arthur Attwood (55). In league and cup he is 25th overall, 11th post-war.
Chris Wood
Chris is the leading Albion goalscorer while on loan from another club, with eight goals.
Inigo Calderon
Inigo has six goals this season, which equals the record of Gary Chivers in 1988/89 for the most goals by a full-back excluding penalties in one season. (Jimmy Langley in 1955/56 and Paul Watson in 2000/01 both scored eight including penalties.)
Gus Poyet
Gus’s overall league points/game is 1.86, which is second of permanent managers to Peter Taylor (1.97 in 2001/02). Gus would move into top place if Albion secure 103 points or more this season.
These records discount seasons 1901/02 and 1902/03 in the Southern League Division Two in which just 16 and 10 games were played respectively, and wartime leagues 1939-46. Albion played in the Southern League until 1920, the Football League thereafter.
Statistics are at 30th March 2011.
Table-based records
Fewest league goals conceded
Club record in Football League is 34 (1922/23, 1984/85), both seasons over 42 games. Albion currently on 27 this season. In 1909/10 they conceded 28 goals in 42 Southern League games. In terms of goals conceded per game, to better 1909/10 would mean conceding 30 or fewer; to better 1922/23 and 1984/85 would mean 37 or fewer. In 2000/01 they conceded 35 in 46 games.
Fewest league defeats
Club record is 6 (1909/10, 2001/02). Albion currently on 5.
Most league wins
Club record is 29 (1955/56). Albion currently on 25.
Fewest home league defeats
Club record is 0 (1964/65). Will be equalled if Albion remain undefeated at home.
Most away league wins
Club record is 12 (1971/72). Albion currently on 10.
Fewest away league goals conceded
Club record is 17 (1909/10, 1977/78, both 42 games – equivalent to 18.6 over 46 games). Albion currently on 13 goals.
Most league points (under three points/win)
Most is 92 (2000/01). This would have been exceeded in 1955/56 at 94 if three points/win had operated. Albion currently on 83.
Most home league points (under three points/win)
Most is 59 (2001/02). If three points/win had operated, this would have been exceeded by 1955/56 (62), 1976/77 (60) and equalled by 1964/65. Albion currently on 49.
Most away league points (under three points/win)
Most is 34 (2001/02, now equalled this season). If three points/win had operated, this would have been exceeded by 1971/72 (42) and 1957/58 (39).
Best away goal difference
Club record is 14 (1971/72). Albion currently on 11.
Sequence-based records (within one season)
Consecutive wins home and away
Currently on eight wins. If Albion win at Rochdale they will equal the record of season 1926/27 of nine consecutive league wins home and away. The league-and-cup record is ten from 1926/27, followed by nine in 1909/10. The current performance is a post-war record.
Consecutive home wins (league and cup)
Albion are currently on 10. The record is 14 in 1975/76.
Consecutive home games without losing
If Albion remain undefeated in the league at home, they will equal the undefeated league record of 1964/65. They would also equal the league-and-cup sequence record of 24 games set in 1964/65 (but would not be undefeated having lost to Leyton Orient in the JPT).
Consecutive home league games scoring
If Albion score at least one goal in each of their remaining home games, they will equal the record 23 of 1955/56 by scoring in every home league game.
Consecutive away wins
If Albion win at Rochdale they will equal the record of season 1998/99 of five consecutive away league wins, and the record of 1926/27 of five consecutive league and cup wins.
Consecutive away games without conceding a goal
Albion are currently on four. The record is six league games from 1948/49, or five league-and-cup games from 1948/49.
Calendar months
Albion’s eight wins out of eight in March sets a new record for the number of wins in one calendar month, beating the seven (out of seven) in October 1926.
Results-based records
Most home and away league “doubles” for
Club record is 8 (1936/37, 1955/56, 1964/65). Albion currently on 7 for this season with further opportunities against Dagenham & Redbridge, Walsall, Colchester United and Notts County.
Fewest home and away league “doubles” against
Club record is 0 (1909/10, 1911/12, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1930/31, 1955/56, 1957/58, 1964/65, 1971/72, 1976/77, 1977/78, 1978/79, 1987/88, 2003/04). Albion currently on 0, but must not lose to Huddersfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday or Southampton.
Most clean sheets in league
Club record is 24 (2000/01). Albion currently on 19.
Attendance records
Best home league average attendance at Withdean
Club record is 6,802 (2005/06). Currently 7,199 (which is the best home average since 1994/95 – 7,562, ie including last two seasons at the Goldstone).
Biggest gate at Withdean
For the record, the biggest league gate at Withdean is 8.691 v Leeds United (20/10/2007). The biggest of all is 8,729 v Manchester City (24/09/2008, Carling Cup).
Personnel records (and notable facts)
Most players born outside British Isles
Six “foreign-born” players were on the pitch at the same time for the last five minutes against Exeter City on 02/11/2010, thereby outnumbering the “home” players for the only time in history. They were: Ankergren, Calderon, Kishishev, LuaLua, Baz and Battipiedi.
Penalties
I don’t know for certain without laborious checking, but I assume this is the worst season for penalty misses! It is probably also up there among the seasons with most penalties awarded. There are records available for the past 15 season which show this is the worst season of those 15 in terms of success rate (46% - six scored from 13 awarded) apart from 2004/05 when we scored just one of three penalties awarded. It is also two ahead of 2003/04 with the most penalties awarded, currently 13.
Casper Ankergren
Casper has conceded 29 goals in 39 league and cup games, an average of 0.74 per game. This is the best average of any goalkeeper with more than 3 appearances. The next best is Ben Roberts (35 goals in 41 matches, average 0.85).
Glenn Murray
Glenn is currently 20th in the list of Albion league goalscorers with 52 goals, or ninth post-war. He is unlikely to catch Peter Harburn or Sam Jennings on 61 this season, but may overtake Jack Doran (54) and Arthur Attwood (55). In league and cup he is 25th overall, 11th post-war.
Chris Wood
Chris is the leading Albion goalscorer while on loan from another club, with eight goals.
Inigo Calderon
Inigo has six goals this season, which equals the record of Gary Chivers in 1988/89 for the most goals by a full-back excluding penalties in one season. (Jimmy Langley in 1955/56 and Paul Watson in 2000/01 both scored eight including penalties.)
Gus Poyet
Gus’s overall league points/game is 1.86, which is second of permanent managers to Peter Taylor (1.97 in 2001/02). Gus would move into top place if Albion secure 103 points or more this season.
